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Leahy oversaw Glossier’s shift from online DTC upstart to a more traditional brand available not just at its own stores and website but also through retailers like Sephora, Mecca Brands and Space NK.
That move was not without growing pains. The company resorted to a second round of layoffs in less than a year shortly after announcing its Sephora partnership in 2022, its first wholesale deal.
Glossier is now poised for further growth, and Leahy called out Walsh’s “deep beauty expertise across categories and stages of companies.”
“I am confident he is the right person to lead Glossier into its next chapter,” she said.
Walsh’s experience in the space garnered him the post. He spent over two years at P&G’s specialty beauty division and, before that, nearly six years at cult hair care brand Ouai. Weiss noted in her post that his name kept coming up and that the executive search recruiter at one point said, “what you want is a Colin Walsh type. That’s the dream.”
“Colin is one of the top CEOs in beauty, who has led brands through incredible growth,” she said. “He is respected and adored by peers and his teams alike, and most importantly, believes deeply in brand magic. A true lover of beauty, of people and their potential, and of having a good time while working hard, we are so excited to have him guide this next chapter for Glossier.”